When cats are entered for shows in joint names it is advisable and desirable that the owners should let the secretary know to whom to send the labels and tallies. It is sometimes only possible to forward these a day or two before the show, and, if sent to the address of the owner who does not keep the cat, complications may arise from the delay.

It is always very important thoroughly to air and disinfect all hampers coming from a show. I place my pussy's travelling boxes or hampers outside for two or three days and nights, and let the sun, air and rain cleanse and purify them. Then I have them washed over with some disinfectant and water.

As regards pairs of kittens, which next to the litter class is, perhaps, the most difficult to judge, I would say, select two kittens as near alike as possible in colour, size and quality. It is as a pair that the awards should be given, and if one exhibit is much superior to its fellow, then the value of the pair is seriously diminished. If your kittens are different in colour and variety, say an Orange and a Tabby, then do not enter them in a pair class, but as single kittens, and they will stand a better chance.

I have noticed that many of our best show cats appear almost perfect in all points, save and except the ears, and these are wide at the base, tall and pointed. They should be just the opposite. Therefore if your queen has prominent ears, try to find a mate for her with these organs not in evidence. Ear tufts are great beautifiers.

Let me suggest to all winners of medals at shows that they should have them engraved with the name of their cat, the date of the show, and the place where the show was held. I think it is a pity that clubs do not undertake to have these inscriptions engraved, as they would greatly enhance the value of the prizes.

If your cat is timid and you want to exhibit him, I should advise you to obtain some pen or hutch and coax and encourage him to come up to the bars. In this way you will educate him to place himself in evidence instead of crouching at the back of the pen, and thus running the risk of being overlooked by the judge. Besides we all like our pets to show themselves off to the general public on these auspicious occasions.

I think it is only catty etiquette if one wins special prizes at one show that one should offer them for some other show. But not the same articles be it understood!

The tendency nowadays is to lower the standard of special prizes, and really some of the articles on show are often of very cheap manufacture. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

If you consider an injustice has been done to you or your cat at a show you have a perfect right to lay your complaint before the Committee of the Club under whose rules the show is held. Then your case will be looked into.

There are two distinct ways of finding out from a judge why your cat did not take a prize, viz., a nice way and a nasty way. I am sure all judges are pleased to give information to exhibitors for their satisfaction and profit if their inquiries are couched in courteous and reasonable terms. It is not pleasant to be attacked suddenly with this question, "Why have you not given my cat a prize? "

In calculating the age of a kitten when entering for exhibition the dates of the month and not the weeks should be taken. Thus from the 20th of July till 20th of October is three months.

It is very hard when you have entered your cat for a Show to find she is "wrong classed." If you are a novice in the fancy write and ask some reliable person, giving a full description of your puss, and ask advice as to the correct class to place her.

Certainly it is better to run a chance of starving your cat in the show pen rather than stuffing her. You can feed up your pet on her return home, and in a day or two she will be as plump as ever, but it is a different matter to remedy the ill effects of constipation, diarrhoea, and other troubles consequent on heavy feeding in close quarters.

Don't worry the secretary of a show with lots of questions, but read the rules and regulations set forth in the schedule with care and attention. They are always very comprehensive.

Special prizes call for special acknowledgment, and winners of the same should write and thank the donors. The secretary of the club giving the show should be addressed on receipt of a club badge or medal.

In sending your cats to shows it is a great help to the executive if you so arrange the label that it may be easily turned round and the address appear uppermost for the return journey. When you use a box, try and attach the label securely to a strap or fastening. Do not nail it down to the lid.

If you intend to fetch away your exhibits yourself on the morning after the show, be careful to write "To be called for," on reverse side of label.

Pink collar ribbons are the most becoming to Blue kittens until their eyes have changed, then orange or yellow will be found more suitable.

It is a mistake to tie very broad ribbons round your cats' necks when sending them to a show. I should choose a colour to match the eyes, about half an inch to three quarters in width. Tie it in a neat bow, and give a stitch in the centre, to prevent it coming untied. Don't leave two long ends. Orange is the most becoming colour for Blue cats.

It is a good plan to give your cat a gentle aperient on its return from a show. If a grown cat then half a Carter's little liver pill may be given with safety, and a smaller quantity for a kitten. It is, however, the elderly cats that have the greatest objection to the scant accommodation provided by the scratchings of earth at the back of the pen

Miss Frances Simpson's Brown Tabby Champion Persimmon

They will persistently await their return to the old familiar pan of earth or sawdust that they have been accustomed to. A clever cat fancier has told me that she gives her cats returning from a show a few drops of whisky in a spoonful of hot water. She says it "sort of cheers them up!"

Nothing is so vexatious as when your puss starts scratching out her lovely ruff just a week or so before the show for which you have entered her. Have a look to her ears, for the irritation may be there, and a little Condy and water and boracic powder will soon set matters right.

I do not think that cat fanciers pay sufficient attention to the condition of their cats when sending them to shows. The most successful exhibitors are those whose cats have been shown in the best condition. Extra attention ought to be paid to the feeding, exercising, and grooming of our pets. I do not advocate washing cats, but a bran bath or a good rubbing with white fuller's earth will greatly improve the fur.

A defective eye, or a damaged tail, would count against a cat in the show pen, and therefore I should advise exhibitors to keep these blemished pussies at home.

It is very necessary for show secretaries to state the entries close on a certain date, but still this date is often of an elastic nature, and it is always worth while for an intending exhibitor to write requesting that, if possible, their entry may be received, although it is forwarded after the advertised date.

The prize cards are placed in the hampers when sent back to exhibitors. If these are soiled or broken on their arrival write to the secretary asking for fresh ones to be kindly forwarded.

The metal tallies sent for the cats at show time will hang much more gracefully round the neck if a slip ring, such as is used for fastening on buttons, is run through the hole of the tally and then the ribbon is put through the ring. Let me advise narrow ribbon, or if a broad bow is thought more stylish fold the ribbon half the width round the neck and then tie. In this way pussie's ruff will not be interfered with.

Many exhibitors are not aware that by paying an extra shilling they can obtain a double pen for their cats at shows. Of course if space in the hall or tent is limited this provision cannot be always arranged for.

It is very necessary to make positively sure of the sex of your kittens before sending to a show, also previous to disposing of them. A purchaser, who is a novice, desiring a male, and discovering only on the arrival of a family of "gutter" kits, that a mistake has been made, is naturaJly rather annoyed.

No doubt a one day's show is best for cats and kittens; but if you send your pets to a two days' show, I do not think it is advisable to remove them at night. You run a risk of exposing them to cold, and the carrying to and fro is really more trying for pussy than being in her pen; and if you know that she will be covered up at night, then probably your pet will sleep comfortably and forget her troubles.

In former days there used to be classes at our shows in which cats were judged according to their weight, and no matter what points the cat possessed or did not possess, the heaviest took the prize. The most weighty cat I ever handled turned the scale at 20 lbs. I do not think, however, that our pets should be fattened up like prize pigs for shows, and, therefore, these weight classes have been wisely done away with.